The cultural and intellectual elite live and play in Bloomsbury.
It boasts world class cultural institutions, a surprisingly large array of public green spaces and grand Georgian architecture throughout.
And, on top of all of this, it is within strolling distance of the West End, Soho and the City.
Since the 17th century, it has been the place for London’s intelligentsia to be seen, and now, with the development of nearby King’s Cross, it is more popular than ever.
This has seen a massive influx of high-profile businesses as well as high-end retailers, restaurants and leisure amenities.
But despite being surrounded by growth and change, Bloomsbury continually clasps on tightly to its heritage, making it a rare bubble of tradition, surrounded by a modernising city.
What properties are on offer?
It’s well known that locals to Bloomsbury almost never leave.
This makes moving to the area a bit of a struggle, as the old townhouses are often inherited by the next generation.
New builds can sometimes be even harder to find, as the area sees little development. Again, this is part of Bloomsbury’s charm.
But recently an old dairy has been converted into luxury apartments, giving buyers the chance to become one of the locals.
Aptly named The Old Dairy, this new development sees some more modern living space arrive in Bloomsbury.
Adam Hunter, head of development at Goldenstone, notes: “The Old Dairy is perfectly appointed, whether for work and learning, leisure or relaxation.
“It is in easy proximity to leading educational establishments and employment centres, including the thriving campus at King’s Cross, which now counts Google, Tom Dixon, Universal, and Central Saint Martin’s among its occupiers.”
James Barker, sales manager for Foxtons West End, says he sees one bedroom apartments falling within the £500,000-£600,000 range, most two bedrooms going from £650,000-£975,000, and three-bedroom apartments starting at £1.1million.
Who’s buying?
A large proportion of people buying into the area are already locals, wanting to either upgrade or downsize while remaining in the Bloomsbury bubble.
On top of that, the Foxtons team has found that 80% of their offers for Bloomsbury properties are coming from English buyers. This is far greater than most areas in and around the City.
But, according to James: “Buyers from China and Hong Kong have a keen interest in the area as well – especially parents who have children studying at UCL.”
However, this may begin to change as new regulations are being enforced on HK buyers when it comes to buying abroad.
Moreover, the proximity of UCL ensures high-calibre students will continue to steadily flow into the area, while the recent growth of commercial property in the form of new office buildings have also seen more corporate buyers join the Bloomsbury fold.
Transport
King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston Station are two big transport hubs located just to the north of Bloomsbury while the central location means the area is full of plenty of Tube stations too.
The area is connected to the Northern, Victoria, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, and the Metropolitan line, with plenty of regular bus routes passing through as well.
Dining
Bloomsbury’s traditional musings flow directly into the area’s food and drink scene.
Otto’s French Restaurant offers classic French cuisine in its cool pop-art interior, and the world-famous Bloomsbury Hotel plays host to the floral covered Dalloway Terrace and lavish cocktail bar The Bloomsbury Club.
But you can also find a few modern gems hidden about town. The October Gallery’s restaurant is a superb hidden treasure, with guest chefs continually experimenting with new and old flavours – right now, Irem Aksu is bringing Istanbul cuisine to Bloomsbury.
Art & Leisure
Bloomsbury is an art and culture paradise with several historical institutions calling the area home.
Hit up the Wellcome Collection for art connected to medicine, life and science, or the British Museum for its vast collection of artefacts that will keep you occupied for a lifetime.
For theatre you’ve got the Bloomsbury Theatre and, of course, the West End right on your doorstep. There’s even an annual Bloomsbury Festival that showcases all of the best cultural happenings the area has to offer. Locals are seriously spoilt for choice here.
Shopping
The brutalist architecture of the Brunswick Centre makes for a great shopping destination, while also being home to a few residents. Additionally, it hosts plenty of restaurants, the Fitness Space gym and Curzon Cinema.
The partially pedestrianised Lamb’s Conduit Street is as civilised as shopping gets in the Capital. It’s not unusual for shop owners to give out a free glass of wine to customers.
Visit Darkroom for handmade crafts and accessories, Ben Pentreath for interiors, and Folk for relaxed yet high-end fashion.
